Open letter to Gov. Bush on Terri Schindler-Schiavo

WorldNetDaily ^ | 10/20/2003 | Tom Ambrose

[Houmatt]

Dear Gov. Bush,

You have before you the most important decision of your political career: Will you or will you not uphold your oath of office to protect the constitutional rights of Terri Schindler-Schiavo?

Additionally, many of our readers have asked questions which, frankly – as reasonable as they are – I don't know how to answer them. Perhaps you do. For example:

1. Why is it that a governor can commute the death sentence of a person convicted of murder, but cannot stop the execution of an innocent young woman?

2. By the definitions of "cruel and unusual," our courts would not allow a convicted murderer to die of legally sanctioned starvation and dehydration. Why are you allowing this to be done to an innocent young woman?

3. If any person in America tried to euthanize their dog the way you are allowing to be done to Terri Schindler-Schiavo, they would be prosecuted for cruelty to an animal. Why are you allowing this to be done to an innocent human being?

Gov. Bush, I must also tell you that your pitiful attempt to make people think you are impotent to act in this matter is not credible. It makes people think you are acting in bad faith – washing your hands of a difficult matter just as Pontius Pilate did with Jesus 2,000 years ago. If such is the case – and I believe it is likely – you sir are a coward without modern-day peer. I hope I'm wrong. But, if you let this woman die, her blood is on your hands.

Oh, and yes, Gov. Bush, I am aware there may be a special session of the state legislature that might include a bill to address this matter. But the simple fact is you already have grounds to take charge now. By the time this "special session" gets done, Terri may very well be dead. But then you'll be able to shrug your shoulders and give yourself and the legislature enough cover to pretend you really tried to help Terri, right?

Surely, governor, there are ample reasons to warrant investigations into the activities of the people involved in seeking Terri's death. And surely there is ample evidence that Terri is no more a vegetable than you are, governor – she laughs, she cries, she moves in response to words and other stimuli. She is awake. She is alive. And she is a citizen of your state who is entitled to the full protection of the law.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo is being denied her right to life. She needs help to be rehabilitated. She does not deserve a painful execution that we wouldn't even subject dogs or criminals to.

So, governor, will you act honorably and uphold the integrity of your oath of office or will you allow an innocent, helpless woman to be murdered by legally mandated neglect?

The world is watching.

[george wythe]

.

Even the Catholic Church, has been vilified by some of Terry's supporters, not to mention the President, the Governor, the 20 judges who have reviewed this case, the many doctors and experts who have testified in court.

This issue is so volatile that Bishop Lynch issued this statement:

Excessive rhetoric like the use of “murder” or the designation of the trial judge or appellate judges as “murderers” not be used by anyone from our Judeo-Christian tradition. This is a much harder case than those who use facile language might know.

[MHGinTN]

Allow me to explain, please.

The governor of Florida is the chief law enforcement officer. He has before him a case of Terri's Constitutional Rights being violated, as he stated in his amicus brief to the Lazzara court. He also has a judge protecting a guardian whom the judge appointed and that guardian is defrauding the very ward the judge placed in his care. Since the guardianship completely disenfranchised Terri Schiavo, the judge is, before the laws of Florida, also a guardian for Terri Schiavo, to insure that the guardian he assigned is meticulous in preserving her rights and properties. The judge has failed miserably to do this minimal oversight and even allowed now the execution of the ward. NOW, do you see why some are furious at this feckless governor for not doing what he swore oaths to do? It isn't a matter of a specific law that would cover Jeb's butt for him, it's about the governor doing what is right to save a citizen of Florida from a cruel and unusual death because he has the law enforcement authority to suspend (not cancel) the execution of a ruling by a suspect judge until a full investigation can be done. The suspension is fully warrantyed since the outcome of the suspect judge's ruling will be irreversible should the ruling be fully executed.

[Agnes Heep]

It's sad to think that George Wallace resorted to extreme measures for a bad cause, but a certain other governor won't do the same for a humane and noble one.

[sinkspur]

With threads like this one and most of the others on this subject, it is clear why most of the mainstream Conservatives dont post or link to this web site. I was told that Drudge and others used to link here, but that he no longer does.

Drudge no longer links because he got tired of the hair-on-fire crazed threads. Can you imagine that? The most frequently-visited conservative site in the world is ashamed to link to Free Republic? I wouldn't doubt he also dropped off because of all the gay bashing that goes on here, if the rumors are true about Drudge's proclivities.

FR does a lot of good, but it can also be a vicious place. I've read threats against Jeb Bush, calls to impeach Jeb Bush, and silly efforts to mail things to the Governor's mansion, as if that childishness is going to accomplish anything.

And then there are letters like the one above, in which the pompous author tries to lay blame for Terri Schiavo's situation on Bush's head!

Sometimes there's very little thinking and nothing but emotion at FR.

[Clara Lou]

Bravo!! Bravo!! Excellent post.

[Manic_Episode]

My open letter to Jeb Bush:


Sir, your silence on the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case speaks volumes, excuses notwithstanding.
I see two lives hanging in the balance, one helpless and precious, the other political.
You chose a position of leadership, now lead.
You have the loudest voice in FLA, denounce those who oppose life and liberty.
You have a bully pulpit, why does it remain vacant?
Soon, very soon, it will be too late.
Now is the time for courage.
Now is the time to defend the defenseless.
Now is the time to act.
Now is the time to lead.
Now is your time.
The next few moments will determine if an innocent lives or dies, and if someone is worthy of their position.
Never give up.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke

[Pukin Dog]

Since the guardianship completely disenfranchised Terri Schiavo, the judge is, before the laws of Florida, also a guardian for Terri Schiavo, to insure that the guardian he assigned is meticulous in preserving her rights and properties. The judge has failed miserably to do this minimal oversight and even allowed now the execution of the ward.

You were doing fine up to this point.

Just where has this been determined? Where has this been decided legally? You cant just throw up the word "disinfranchised" and expect people to hop. That word has been discredited by the likes of Jesse Jackson and others, as the perfect word to use when you have lots of emotion, backed by little supporting facts.

You say "Guardianship completely disinfranchised Terri", I ask you WHERE? HOW? BY WHOM? WHEN? WHY? Finally, I ask you specifically WHAT was done that "disfranchised" this woman by a reading of the LAW? I defy ANYONE here to answer me on this. If someone does, then I would join the zealots in attacking Gov Bush for inaction. Until someone (AND NO ONE CAN) make this LEGAL argument, they have absolutley no right to suggest that Bush has "blood on his hands".

I'll be waiting for the answer, though anyone who reads this knows it will never come. Mourn for the woman, but dont risk Conservative credibility through an irrational series of attacks against a great man like Jeb Bush.

[Pukin Dog]

I'm told that Drudge has a raving crush on the toothpick-like Ann Coulter, so I dont know about the Gay accusations. I was reading something the other day that said that many Freepers found this place via Drudge. If that is true, then all the more sad that he would be mistreated here.

[Shadow Deamon]

"Just how many more of these posts are freepers going to be subjected to?"

Who's forcing you to read them all? Or do you call the cable provider to have them remove objectionable content rather than turning the channel yourself? Grow-up!

[Leatherneck_MT]

" I heard this said before, but I'm not from FL so I don't understand the legalities involved. Could you explain what laws would allow him to intervene in a situation like this? "

I'm more than just a bit angry about this so please understand that if I sound pissed off I am, I am NOT mad at you however for asking the question.

Now my answer.

I am not aware of the laws and how they work in Florida and frankly the laws at this point are not my concern. The Politicians are concerned more about the Laws and how they will look in the polls than they are about doing what is right.

It would be criminal to kill a dog like this.

It would be cruel and unusual to kill a death row inmate like this.

It would be grounds for your arrest if you treated any of God's creatures like this.

Food is not an artifical life support system. If she were on a breather or a heart monitor or any of these artificial life support devices, AND she had a written will plainly stating her desire, THEN I would reluctantly agree that she should be taken off said devices. But witholding food and water is criminal, whether a Judge has ruled it's ok or not is irrelevant.

Bush could, at a minimum, send in state police, Nat. Guard troops, what have you to stop this insanity.

He has not, and for all appearances, does not plan to do anything.

Moral courage is the courage you have in yourself that makes you do what is right regardless of who agrees with you or regardless of whether the law is on your side.

We had a nation full of Lions in 1776 when "The Law" said we couldn't do such and such. They Roared for liberty at a time when everything was at stake. They knew that they would pay for their "Treason" with their lives and their wealth if they did not win (Many did anyway). But that didn't stop them. They did what was right.

I fear that our nation's leaders have all become Lambs. Jeb Bush's lack of action to save a young woman from a horrible death that wouldn't be fostered on a convicted murderer is absolute proof of that.

[MHGinTN]

Nice try at a red herring, dog. How does whether Terri is completely disenfranchised or only partially disenfranchised relieve the feckless governor from the responsibility to protect Terri over the injustices ruled by a judge who has failed to exercise his required oversight of the guardianship laws?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Didn't Jeb Bush drive by your house one night and beat your mailbox with a baseball bat? I'm pretty sure that Dubya was the one who burned my grandma's chicken coop......

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Ever watch MLB and seen those guys "adjust" themselves? Yep, you guessed it...Bush is behind that one, too.

[Neets]

Yea?? Well he let the air out of my tires, and his brother Jorge stole my grocery money.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I heard he was the one who was responsible for Jimmy and Adam leaving "The Man Show", too. Oh, and all that tool packaging, you know, the stuff you need a crowbar to open, and still cut your hand on? Bush designed it.

[Two_Sheds]

So, in other words, the law be damned and let's have Jeb send in the troops?

What happens when a Governor, or President for that matter, decides to do the same thing in a situation that you don't agree with? How do you stop him when he can justify his heavy hand with his version of morality?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I hear that Dubya keeps a list in his office - its got all the names of true conservatives and true patriots on it, and an inventory of what guns they have. He, Jeb, his Father, and the rest of the RINOs met, and ranked which ones they're going to confiscate first.

[MHGinTN]

Nice red herring ... has an unending loop to it. Would you prefer law enforcement not act when the Constitutional Rights of a victim are being grossly violated unto death. [See, I can construct unending red herring loops, also.]

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The governor of Florida is the chief law enforcement officer.

With all respect, I don't think so.

The Governor AND his cabinet are the FDLE, but they do not override laws that are enforced, they ensure they are enforced. In this case, Judge Greer enforced a law, and the FDLE cannot overrule it (sadly).

I don't think you guys are being right about this. I have seen this comment about the Governor posted before, and I don't know who started it, but they ought to check their facts.

[MHGinTN]

I give up. You folks want to place your flowers on Jeb's altar, go ahead.